Antarctica Continent Map

Antarctica in the globe with the political divisions of the countries around (on the right).

Antarctica is a continent located mostly south of the Antarctic Circle. There are 29 nations signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, they operates through their National Antarctic Program. Speculation over the existence of Antarctica was confirmed in the early 1820s by US Americans, British and Russian expeditions.

Severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean. Natural resources: iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small noncommercial quantities. Krill, finfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries.